Thanks to LVA, all Virginia libraries have free access to UniversalClass as part of the Find It Virginia collection. So how can you make the most of your library's UniversalClass subscription?
Join staff from Transparent Language Online, our provider for Universal Class, for a webinar on how to take advantage of this unique collection of self-paced online learning that offers users the chance to build skills and earn continuing education credits. Topics include:
An overview of UniversalClass & Continuing Education Units
Live demo exploring some of the 600+ available courses (maybe a sneak peek of upcoming new courses!)
Marketing ideas to promote the platform to your patrons
Can't make it to the live session? Register for the webinar to get the recording.
This online program from Trenton Hizer, the Senior Manuscripts Acquisition and Digital Archivist at the Library of Virginia, covered the LVA collections and practices for dealing with inquiries about donating business, organizational, and/or private papers to public library collections, including clarifying what LVA considers adding to its collections and to whom at LVA you can refer people for further help.
Niche Academy is open to all Virginia library staff members and library associates such as trustees and Friends board members. If you do not have a Niche Academy account, please use your library email address to sign up. If you do not have a library work email, you may register with a personal email, and we will contact you to confirm that you are affiliated with a Virginia library.
News from Library Development & Networking
Find It VA Tips
Get Monthly Marketing Tips For Find It VA
Do you not have enough time to promote your digital content? Would you like to get more use of the Find It VA resources from LVA? Several of our vendors are now sending a monthly marketing email that includes social media images, draft text for posts, and other promotional ideas.
You can sign up to get any or all of this vendor-created content directly in your inbox to use in your marketing and promotional work.
Four of our vendors are offering monthly marketing emails for Virginia libraries. Here's how to sign up:
Brainfuse (HelpNow, JobNow, VetNow) -- Sign Up form
EBSCO (Explora, NoveList, Read It!) -- Sign Up form
Please be sure to share this information with your colleagues who handle communications, marketing, and social media so that they can take advantage of these opportunities to get more use of your Find It Virginia resources.
News from LVA
Recent Publications
We wanted to note the recent publication by our former LVA colleague Gregg Kimball of his new book Searching forJimmie Strother: A Tale of Music, Murder, and Memory. The book examines the life and music of James Lee Strother who in June 1936 performed thirteen songs at the Virginia State Prison Farm for famed folklorist John Lomax and the Library of Congress.
Gregg's book is a fascinating exploration of how Strother's songs and life speak to the Black Experience in America, and "continue to influence and remain deeply relevant to American culture to this day." Libraries that might be interested in a program on the book and the music of Jimmie Strother can contact Gregg at gdkimball@cox.net for more information.
Strong Men & Women in Virginia History
During Black History Month, the Library of Virginia and Dominion Energy Virginia co-sponsor the Strong Men & Women in Virginia History program celebrating the contributions of African Americans to Virginia’s history and culture.
Find information about the 2025 honorees as well as past honorees on our Virginia Changemakers website. Explore the lives of these trailblazing Virginians by historical era or by theme.
Grants and Opportunities
ALA Scholarship Grants
Are you pursuing or considering a master's degree in the field of library and information science? The American Library Association (ALA) has a number of scholarship grants that might be of interest. ALA "provides over $300,000 annually toward accredited master's degree programs in library study."
Grants may be targeted to specific library interests or feature eligibility criteria.
This round of ALA scholarship grants all have a March 01, 2025 deadline.
The Stephen T. Riedner Grant for Life Enhancing Library Programs for People living with Dementia provides libraries with funds to create new services or programming for individuals experiencing Alzheimer's or dementia.
The deadline for applications is February 21, 2025, and there are two $2,500 grants available for libraries that wish to provide services for this community.
At the end of the year, we put out a call for library staff in Virginia to submit their favorite three books that they read in 2024. These did not have to be titles published in the year, but were whatever books caught the reader's eye and ear.
We had responses from 178 library staff members around the Commonwealth who shared 526 titles (437 fiction and 89 nonfiction).
If you would like to share these titles with your reading community, you can download pdf brochures of the fiction and nonfiction lists. Here are some highlights:
Top ten fiction titles
The Women by Kristin Hannah
James by Percival Everett
North Woods by Daniel Mason
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
Funny Story by Emily Henry
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Nonfiction titles with multiple mentions
The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
The Bookshop by Evan Friss
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Virginia Library Projects
From the editor: This is a new feature in the newsletter to share interesting projects that Virginia libraries are implementing to improve access to resources or improve services to users. If you are interested in sharing a project your library is doing, please reach out to Barry Trott, barry.trott@lva.virginia.gov, to discuss writing it up.
This month's feature is from Appomattox Regional Library and looks at their initiatives to support a healthy community. It demonstrates how public libraries have an opportunity to play a critical role in supporting community wellness.--Ed.
Supporting Community Wellness
In 2024, the Appomattox Regional Library System (ARLS) partnered with Sylvia’s Sisters to provide essential menstruation products at their library locations across three localities. ARLS now offer menstruation kits at the front desks and has loose products available in restrooms.
Additionally, ARLS has partnered with Dinwiddie Parks and Recreation to distribute these products in restrooms at libraries housed within their community centers.
From June 2023 to July 2024, ARLS distributed 120 kits and 2,594 individual products.
Another project debuted in November 2023, when ARLS unveiled its Nursing Mothers' Room at the Hopewell Library, offering a private, comfortable space for nursing mothers.
The Nursing Mothers' Room is available during all library hours. Users can simply check out the key to the room from the front desk. Once inside, they can adjust the sliding sign from VACANT to IN USE.
The nursing room is conveniently located next to the Family Room in the children’s section of our main library.
The project is part of ARLS’s broader commitment to community wellness, with the library also expanding its family resource collection to support parents and caregivers. The Family Resource Collection includes books on pregnancy, parenting, family health, and similar topics. These materials are part of the library's adult nonfiction collection, and funding comes from the regular collection budget. Items in this collection are marked with a special Family Resource sticker and are located in a dedicated section of adult nonfiction.
A large dedication event and health fair, hosted in February 2024, brought together community partners such as Virginia Physicians for Women, Hopewell-Prince George Healthy Families, and the Crater Health District WIC office.
Featured Virginia Programs
Culpeper County Library
Knit and Crochet Workshop
Since December 2023, the Culpeper County Library has been hosting workshops where patrons can come to knit and crochet, ask questions, access materials, and receive instruction from staff. The program is open to all, regardless of skill level,
Knit & Crochet has become a huge hit and we're now going to have a set date every month where patrons can come and enjoy the fiber arts.
For more info, contact Jessica McFarland, jmcfarland@cclva.org
Suffolk Public Library
Shelf Bound Sound
We're turning up the volume! Join us for Shelf Bound Sound, the second annual music festival from Suffolk Public Library highlighting local talent both established and emerging. Come support your favorites and find new bands to follow! Don't miss out on the vendor hall and the band merch available. For all ages. Parental advisory for possible explicit language.
For more info, contact Alexis Watkina, awatkins@suffolkva.us
This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is published by the Library of Virginia Library Development and Networking Division.
Library of Virginia: Library Development & Networking Division 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, Virginia 23219 804-239-3510 https://vpl.lib.va.us
